Mansfield



transverse curvature of the material of Ithe 'v rim, the recess resulting from such round y practically wholly concealed in a true plan view of the rim.l

The terminals of the arms of thespider are. formed with what may betermed heads 7 shaped to accurately conform and fit into the said recesses, the outer surfaces 8 of suchheads presenting plain surfaces at an angle approximating 450 to the axis of the spider, and bearing squarely against similar surfaces forming the base or bottoms of the recesses. The inner surfaces'of the heads as 9 are shaped to conform to, and present, in so far as possible, a continuation of the outer surface of the rim. An ordinary wood screw 10 unites the' heads and rim, being countersunk in the metallic heads, and taking into the material of the rim.

As thus formed the connection is .practiv cally concealed from the upper surface of the rim, but particularly and of more importance presents a rigid, strain-resisting joint.. For example, as the rim and spider ends-fit together on an angle of -lo to the horizontal, and from 'beneath the horizontal, it is apparent that a downward strain on the rim is 'resisted by practically the full area surface of the head 7 throughout the vertical dimension of the rim, and the lat- -eral or twisting strain on therim is re- 45' sisted by the comparatively extended bearing surfaces or inclined walls 5 of the recess. As these walls are inclined it is apparent that this twisting strain is converted into a wedging action, thereby resisting any tendency to separate the connections, or to split ormar the-rim at the joint.

|1`he steering wheel constructed by the present method presents, therefore, all the advantages required in the commercial steering wheel. The gripping surfacel is absolutely unmarred or unbroken, with the lconnection proper on practically the under side of the rim so that there is presented practically no obstruction to t-he free sliding vmovement of the hand 111 operating the wheel; the connection between the spider" land rim is rigid; the connection is so formed that advantage'is taken of the maximum possible resistance of the inaterial of the i rim to the strain and stress incident to the use of the wheel; and the oval or elongated formation of the head permits the side edges of the arms of the spider to merge into the surfaceof the head on lines forming a merging curvature with the meeting surface of the rim, to add to the pleasing lines at the juncture of the spider and rim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is .1. A rim for steering wheels, comprising a circular structure of substantially oval shape in cross section, with spider-receiving recess arranged at an angle to the horizontal plane of the rim, and of oval edge formation in the plane of the rim and with a substantially circular base, the wall of the recess being of maximum height longitudinally of the rim and of minimunrheight transversely of the rim.

2. A rim for steering wheels comprising a circular structure of rounded shape in cross section, and formed with spider termin'al receiving recesses at determinate points, each of said recesses being formed on the inner surface of the rim below and at an angle to the horizontal plane of the rim, each recess having an oval outer edge Ainthe plane of the surface of the rim and -a'substantia-lly circular base, the wall of the recess being of greatest height 1n the longitudinal peripheral line of the rim and ,gradually reduced from such part of greatest height to .a part of least height inthe transverse line of the rim. v

. 3. A steering nf'heely comprising a rim hav- 'ing recesses formed below the horizontal diameter thereof with the bottoms at an augle to such horizontal diameter, and spider arms having terminal heads formed at an angle to the rim, the heads also being formed to lit and till the recesses in such a manner as to provide a smooth andunobstructcd surface of the rim at the. points of the attachment of the arm terminal heads to the rim.

4. A steering wheel comprising a rim having oval shaped recesses .formed in its inner surface, with inclinedside walls and bottoms at an angle to the horizontal diameter thereof, and a spider having arms the free 'end-s of which are formed at an angle to correspond to the angle of the said recesses and of such a contouras to fill and merge with the external surfac'e of the rim thereby providing a continuous, smooth and unobstructed rim surface at the points of connection of the free ends of the spider arms to the rim.

5. A steering wheel comprising a rim having oval shaped recesses formed in the inner "surface-thereof with-inclined walls and a spider having arms the free ends of which are formed to tit and fill the recesses of the rim in such a manner as to conform and coincide with the external surface of thc rim thereby presenting a smooth and continuous surface, and screws for uniting the parts.

lio

Adesinee] formed and adapted to .accurately it and lill said recesses thereby presenting a continuous' surface line, with respect to the rim thereby presenting u smoothand unobstructed rim surface,A end fastening'mea-ns )io unite the arms to 'the rim', observable from one side 1 only whenthe parts are connected.

7. 'A11 article of manufacture comprising e. rim having a s'erxes'ofl recesses yformed at an angle in, theinner edge thereof andra spider provided with arms the free' ends of which are angularly related to the body portion` and which are provided 4with heedls which engage and fill Vsaid recesses thereby presentlng a rim of uniform, unbroken and unobstructed exterior surface lines.

.8; lA'steerin'g wheelfcomprising ai rim ofv loval cross sectlon haymg a serles of engi-)w I1 Y la'rly related recesses formed "therei means' of round tool the side Walls thereof also" being inclined and., a spider provided with arms theterlninals of which are engu-` larly related theretoand formed of such shape `and size to fit and fill seid recesses so as to yrestore the; rim surface to smooth and unbroken surface lines evt-'the points of con- 3o nec'tion' of the spider arms to the rim. v

In testimony whereof I allix my signature..

CLETUs N. ALLERmNG. 

